Thank you for choosing the Jackson Local School District to enroll your child! We are excited to work with you to make sure your child succeeds. Our goal at Jackson Local is to nurture and challenge our students so they become lifelong learners and confident leaders. We believe education is a partnership, and we know you are an expert when it comes to your child. We hope you will share your expertise with us. We look forward to standing alongside you and sharing your child’s success in the years ahead. Again, thank you for choosing Jackson Local.

Dear Jackson Local Families,

We are writing to update you about the serious safety incident that occurred at Sauder Elementary on May 16. A third-grade student brought a loaded firearm to school, concealed inside a Chromebook bag. Thanks to the swift and responsible actions of students and staff, the situation was safely resolved.

While we are grateful for the outcome, we take this incident with the utmost seriousness. The safety of our students and staff is, and always will be, our top priority. We are currently conducting a thorough after-action review of what occurred to examine every detail and determine where we can strengthen our protocols and procedures.

As part of this ongoing effort, we will continue researching best practices in school safety and security and exploring how we might implement new technologies to enhance the protective measures already in place across the district. Our goal is to take reasonable and effective steps to prevent similar situations while maintaining the welcoming, supportive environment essential for student learning and development. We remain committed to finding solutions that strengthen safety without compromising the positive culture that defines our schools.

As a reminder, the district is planning a School Safety and Security Night early in the 2025–2026 school year. More information about that event will be shared after the start of the new school year.

School safety is a shared responsibility between home and school. Please take a moment to talk with your child(ren) about the importance of making good choices on school grounds and remind them that if they see something concerning, they should say something. Together, we can help ensure a safe and supportive environment for all.

Let's continue to work together to protect the well-being of your child(ren). Thank you for your continued support and trust in the Jackson Local School District.

Sincerely,

Jackson Local School District

Jackson Memorial Middle School

Jackson High School

The Jackson Local School District is pleased to announce several administrative changes for the upcoming 2025–2026 school year. These leadership transitions reflect our ongoing commitment to excellence and ensuring strong support for our students and staff.

• Mrs. Angela Leggett will serve as the new principal at Strausser Elementary, following the retirement of Mrs. Susanne Waltman.

• Mrs. Katie Elliott will become the new principal at Lake Cable Elementary, succeeding Mrs. Leggett in that role.

• Mrs. Brigitte Fontes and Mr. Ben McGugin will join the leadership team at Jackson Memorial Middle School as assistant principals. They will take over for Mr. Dave Waltman, who is retiring, and Mrs. Elliott.

Please join us in congratulating these dedicated educators as they take on new roles, and in extending our heartfelt appreciation to Mrs. Waltman and Mr. Waltman for their many years of service to Jackson Local Schools.

There are more than a dozen enrichment opportunities for students to hone their academic, artistic, and athletic skills this summer. Some of the flyers include registration information for Camp Invention, Python Coding Camp, Elementary and STEAM camps, boys and girls lacrosse camps, football camp, and much more.

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The materials provided herein are solely for informational purposes and do not constitute an endorsement by the Jackson Local School District of any individuals or organizations involved nor of the messages conveyed within these materials. Absent a specific and express statement to the contrary, please be advised that the activities promoted by these materials do not have an affiliation with, nor are they sponsored or endorsed by, the Jackson Local School District.

RiverTree Church in Jackson Township organizes the Backpack Food Program and coordinates the distribution with Jackson Local Schools. The program helps more than 200 Jackson Local students. The program aims to send home a variety of easy-to-prepare meals and snacks for students over the weekend. There is no income requirement to participate in the program. The bags are delivered to the schools.

Material and financial donations can be made to RiverTree to support this initiative. The program has immediate needs for:

Families with children who will be 5 years old on or before August 1, 2025, can now begin the online registration process for kindergarten in Jackson Local Schools.

To create an account and start registration, please click the link button below. This same link can also be used to register new students in grades 1-12.

If you already have a student enrolled in Jackson Local, you may use your existing username and password from First Day Forms to log in and complete registration.

For additional details, please visit our registration website or contact your the main office of your child's school.If you do not know what elementary building your child should attend, please click here to find your school by street address.

🏀 Lady Bears Youth Basketball Summer Camp 2025 🏀

Join us for the Lady Bears Youth Basketball Summer Camp! Girls entering grades K-8 will learn new skills, make friends, and have fun alongside our talented Jackson Girls Basketball players and coaches.

📅 June 9-12 (Monday-Thursday)

⏰ Grades K-4: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ($80)
⏰ Grades 5-8: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM ($100)

Campers will receive a basketball, camp T-shirt, and a snack each day (nut-free).

👟 Please remember to bring gym shoes, athletic clothing, and a water bottle.

Spots fill up fast—register now and become part of a great summer tradition!

👉 jacksongirlsbasketball.org/registration

What’s a “chicken jockey”? If your kid saw A Minecraft Movie, they know. What should’ve been innocent fun is turning into mayhem — thanks to a viral trend where teens are trashing theaters and posting it online.

It’s time to talk to your kids: Not every trend is worth the clicks, and one video can follow them forever. Watch Now!

* The statistics above are estimates provided to our district based on the number of parents already enrolled and using SmartSocial resources.

The safety and security of our students and staff is our top priority, and timely communication with parents and guardians is essential. We want to ensure that families stay informed in a clear, consistent, and efficient manner. Our district uses a mass notification system to send important messages through three primary methods: phone calls, text messages, and emails.

To prioritize urgency, we classify these communications as follows:

- **Phone Calls:** Reserved for the most urgent notifications. This is our highest priority method for critical updates.

- **Text Messages:** Used for important updates that may not require an immediate call, but still require prompt attention.

- **Emails:** Sent for general updates or follow-up information that does not need urgent action.

In many cases, you may receive a communication through all three channels for maximum accessibility. However, if you happen to miss an urgent all-call from the district, or if your voicemail box is full and cannot receive our message, we ask that you avoid calling district offices directly. Instead, you can view the same message on our district’s website, where urgent notifications are posted as alerts.

This process ensures our staff can focus on the safety and security efforts in progress, without the additional burden of managing incoming calls. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we work together to keep our schools safe and keep you informed.

Thank you for partnering with us to make sure every student’s safety is supported.

Are you or someone you know looking for information on preschools in the Jackson Local School District area? Check out our preschool information page for more information.

Don't miss out! Local Jackson area preschool programs are accepting registrations now. Help your child develop socially, emotionally, and academically with an enriching program. When your child enrolls, they aren't just kindergarten ready, they're JACKSON KINDERGARTEN READY! Tuition reduction is available for those who qualify. Visit our preschool webpage to learn more and register today:

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The materials provided herein are solely for informational purposes and do not constitute an endorsement by the Jackson Local School District of any individuals or organizations involved nor of the messages conveyed within these materials. Absent a specific and express statement to the contrary, please be advised that the information promoted by these materials do not have an affiliation with, nor are they sponsored or endorsed by, the Jackson Local School District.

The Jackson High School sports season is upon us with student-athletes participating. If you would like to take in a game, please scan the QR code to see our spring sports schedules or click/touch here.

For the first time all six Jackson Local Schools (Amherst, Lake Cable, Sauder and Strausser Elementary Schools, Jackson Memorial Middle School, and Jackson High School) have been recognized as a best school by U.S. News & World Report. This is a an awesome national recognition by our schools. It is a testament to the collaboration between our schools, teachers, students, parents, and families. Thank you for your partnership in educating your child(ren)!

In order to purchase tickets to Jackson High School sporting events or pay athletic-related fees, you can do by visiting this website. The ticketing link remains the same, however, there has been a slight change to the location of that site on JacksonPolarBears.org. Please see the illustration below on how to navigate to this site from our athletic website.

The Home Access Center portal has been activated for all Jackson students. Parents should create their own accounts to access the portal. Please take a look at the video tutorial below for how to create your account.

Technical issues should be directed to your child's school.

The Jackson Local School District started an initiative this school year to share resources and tips with our parents. We are providing more resources from our district mental health partners. We hope you find value in these resources from our mental health experts.

United Way of Greater Stark County is pleased to join the partnership that supports StarkHelpCentral.com, a searchable community resource website supported by Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery (StarkMHAR), Stark County Job & Family Services, Stark Educational Service Center, Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities and Stark County Family Court, and Stark County Family Council.

With this partnership, Stark County 2-1-1 will close its 2-1-1 information line and online database. This move will establish StarkHelpCentral.com as the primary source of information about community resources in Stark County.

Attached to this email is a brief guide that provides contact information for the most requested programs and services in our community. This resource guide will be direct mailed to residents of ZIP codes where most of 211’s calls originate. This will happen by the end of November.

For more community resources, go to StarkHelpCentral.com.

You can use the link below to our anonymous reporting system through Sandy Hook. Simply type in Jackson High School or Jackson Middle School and select the school for which you a reporting a tip.

Within the intent of the federal statutes (Rehabilitation Act of 1973-section 504 and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act IDEA-public law 105-17), the Jackson Local School District continues its effort to locate and identify children with disabilities from birth through age 21. Children with disabilities have physical, emotional, and or mental impairments that may require special education. Public schools provide free and appropriate education regardless of a child’s disability. However, before these children can be served, they must be found. Many of these children are not visible because they may not function in the community’s mainstream, and many are preschoolers. Parents may not realize that programs and services are available through their school district or from agencies in their community. If you are aware of a child who may need a special education program or services, contact Kathy Brand, Jackson Local School District’s Special Programs Director with any question you may have regarding the above notice at 330-830-8006.

Striving for Excellence

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Superintendent: Christopher DiLoreto

Board of Education:

Lia Jones, Esq., president

Scott Gindlesberger, vice president

Christopher V. Goff, Esq.,

Thomas W. Winkhart, Esq.

Tonya M. Wright

Email: contactus@jackson.sparcc.org
Website: https://www.jackson.stark.k12.oh.us/
Location: 7602 Fulton Drive Northwest, Massillon, OH, USA
Phone: (330) 830-8000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JacksonLocalSchools
Twitter: @JacksonLocal_SD